adventure

Yay – I’m so excited that it’s finally summer break for the boys. While the twins will be going to Summer school in a few weeks, we still plan to take full advantage of the days we have with each other and summer for us means fun and adventures. Since the boys and I are going to be adventuring around our island like tourists this summer, I figured that I would share with all of you some of the pictures of our journey. While some of them will be fun and exciting, we also plan to revisit some of the places I played in my childhood. So many changes happen as the future evolves and this is my way of sharing all of it with my boys.

A few days ago I found myself pumping gas into my car and an overwhelming feeling of a need to visit sanctuary overcame me. As a child my parents took me to different places on the island to cool off during the summer or hot months or to just relax and as a teenager, I visited these places with friends. I wanted to take a drive to calm my mind. Out of the blue, I found myself driving to little towns that I haven’t been to in over 10 years and what I saw hurt my heart.

My first stop was to Waihee Valley and a location the locals here know as Swinging Bridges. It’s at the top of a narrow road at the base of the mountain range and somewhere I spent many summers, walking across these swinging bridges on a hike to get to the waterfall at the top of the trail. The last time we entered, we were charged a fee (about 10 years ago), even if we were Kama’ainas (local residents). So, I expected that I would need to pay a small fee to enter the grounds again. This time, I was greeted at the top of the road before the entry to Swinging Bridges with a large gate that blocked my entry.

In shock, I sat there for a few minutes to collect my thoughts. How is this even possible? I turned my car around and just as I started my descent back down the road, I passed a local man tending to his garden. His house is located just to the side of where this photo (above) was taken. If you’ve been to Hawaii or live here, then you probably know that even is Aunty or Uncle, so I greeted him by saying… “Good morning Uncle, how are you today?” He responded by approaching my car and we talked story a bit. He explained that the gate was put up about 5 years ago and the property which is owned by the plantation and a private land owner decided to remove access to the public. We talked about how the families that lived in the valley were either moving away or they were offered a lot of money to sell their homes. Long time residents that go back generations that live on the road are also blocked access to something they grew up with. We talked for about 30 minutes and the uncle ended the conversation by saying that I was welcomed to come back any time to wala’au (or talk story).

As a kid, we often went up to those areas to pick fern so that we could make haku leis (floral head wreaths) for hula, weddings and other events. The local people no longer have access to that area any longer without asking for permission. Like I mentioned before, we also swam in the ponds and waterfalls as kids to cool off from the hot Maui heat. About 10 years ago I took my eldest son to these places and he loved it, but now it is no longer accessible.

I absolutely think that those who own the property have the right to block access to the public, however, much of the land in these parts are technically not “owned” by anyone. Hawaii is known for parts of the islands that are blocked from access when they technically are not owned by the person who does so. It’s a common argument throughout the islands. I was so sad to see this gate here because I figured that if it was still easily accessible, this would be one of the places I would bring my sons to go hiking and journeying through the Valley and ending at a gorgeous waterfall. I’m sad to see that the access is blocked, but I know there truly is not much I can do about it to fix the situation. I can only hope that they open it for hiking some days and I can take my sons to visit my childhood stomping grounds.

This was just the beginning of my journey on that day. Over the next week or so I’ll be sharing more of my adventure and over the next couple of months, I’ll be sharing photos and our journey as we enjoy our summer break. Stay tuned for more.

Wishing you all a wonderful summer!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and all images are my own. Affiliate links may be posted throughout and all opinions are my own.

Since my family and I live in paradise, our world is our playground – literally. We like to spend our days trekking through the forest trails or lounging as a family at the beach. Because of this, traveling with essentials is always a must for us and making sure we have the right kind of gear to hold all of our essentials is a requirement. Recently, my family and I have been introduced to some awesome packs from Lewis N. Clark and I wanted to share them with you. With Spring and Summer months right around the bend, if you are anything like my family, you’re planning your next adventure and these awesome packs are worth the mention. The Lewis N. Clark Electrolight Backpacks are perfect for the world traveler or explorer and today I share them with you.

The Lewis N. Clark Electrolight Backpacks are compact bags that are collapsible. I remember as a kid, my dad had something similar to use for his surfing gear so immediately when I set my eyes on these – I knew they would be a great addition for us to use. The ElectroLight bags weigh in at just under three ounces and are made with durable silnylon and made to last. The collapsible backpacks (and duffles – they have those too) are compact and well-constructed for how tiny and lightweight they are. These cool packs are made in bright, sporty colors – which I love, because as a mother it not only helps me with keeping an eye on the kids (they literally stand out), but colors are trendy for the boys and really make these cool all on their own. The Lewis N. Clark bags are resistant to water and stains which is also a plus since stains are inevitable and this makes it perfect for days when exploring out and about and it starts to drizzle.

What I enjoy so much about these is the fact that they scrunch and fold into a small compact pouch which makes this not only great for storage and for keeping on hand (in the car, etc.) but perfect for travel. The size of the backpack is perfect to fit those little extra necessities or “last minute shopping buys while traveling” but also fits well in the overhead of the plane, on the floor below the seat or folds back into it’s little pouch for easy storage. These backpacks fit comfortably on the shoulders and distribute the weight nicely so that it sits comfortable on your back as well. My entire family has been loving these and we plan to pick up three more so each of us can have our own.

This backpack retails for $27.00 and like I mentioned previously, Lewis N. Clark also have a dufflebag that folds up small as well. The backpack is equipped with non-slip, adjustable straps which make it convenient for my 12 year old to take with him when he’s off to the beach or to the pool with his buds. It easily fits his towel, goggles or other swim gear, an average size bottle of water and a few odds and ends with ease. This backpack is a minimalist travel essential. This will be a great edition for our summer fun adventures because it’s perfect to hold everything you want to keep organized without the heavy feeling of a traditional backpack.

Whether you are using this backpack for travel, exploring, hiking or everything in between – you will have a backpack that is made with quality. Each of the Lewis N. Clark Electrolight Backpacks are:

Ultra-lightweight

Made with silnylon fabric that is water and stain resistant

Unfolds easy from a compact pouch to a full backpack

The clipped on pouch can be used as a separate ditty bag

Comes with non-slip, adjustable straps that feel comfortable on the shoulders

An internal pocket allows you to keep small valuables like a set of keys, etc.

17in x 13in x 6in

Are you a backpacker and love to explore and go on adventures? If so, do you think these packs would fit into your adventure lifestyle? If you’re interested in getting your own Lewis N. Clark Electrolight Backpack – you can check them out and the other colors available here. Don’t forget, they have dufflebags too.

Overall I’m not only impressed with the quality of these packs but I love that they are lightweight and versatile for my family. While these may not be holding school books or heavy items, they can hold up to a 60 lb. burst weight, though I do not suggest you carry anything that heavy in the pack. My sons love the colors they come in and I love that they give my family the option to carry some of the things we need for when we travel or go hiking without sacrificing comfort or storing anything huge when not in use. We are definitely picking up a few more so each of us can have our own.

Comment below and let me know if this is something you can utilize in your life?

Disclaimer: The products featured and discussed in this post were sent to me for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature this product. Affiliate links are posted through out.

About Honeygirl's World

Honeygirl's World is a Lifestyle blog by Honey Kaho'ohanohano. Honey is a Maui girl, born and raised on the island of Maui with a background in Sales and Marketing, Resort Management and Motivational Speaking. This blog is a way for her to document her life's adventures while sharing her best tips and tricks for all things lifestyle, beauty and Hawaii. Learn more about Honey and the entire family that is featured here on the blog.